What have you done to cope with high energy costs?

[Redox]

Hmm, year round chilled water. Can I bury a PEX loop in there?

Chris

 

[RedRanger]

It's cheaper to learn to brew your own high quality beer. As far as keeping it cold... well we have Puget Sound, 48-50 degrees year round.

Funny you mention the "brew your own".. Did that about 20 years ago, used to make Coopers Lager, and it cost less than a softdrink. Problem was--gained 20 pounds in about 8 months. Sold all the paraphanefila and took about 2 years to lose the weight. Now I really have to limit my alcohol spending,but no longer have to loosen the belt :cheese:

 

[begreen]

Hmm, year round chilled water. Can I bury a PEX loop in there?

Chris

Year round steady temp water. There are some lodges up north on the water that have geothermal heat pumps connected to a tubing mesh in the Sound.

 

[Redox]

Hmm, year round chilled water. Can I bury a PEX loop in there?

Chris

Year round steady temp water. There are some lodges up north on the water that have geothermal heat pumps connected to a tubing mesh in the Sound.

Steady CHILLED water! Most chillers for comfort cooling put out 44-45 degree water and return it at 55 degrees. If only the Cheaspeake were that cool...

Just wondering out loud who regulates those loops on what is probably public property?

Chris

 

[fstaples]

I haven't gotten a haircut in almost 9 years. I rarely bathe. As soon as I can afford some propane, I'm going to grill both of wife's cats. And maybe her dog. Rick

I wonder if they taste like chicken.

In sub zero temperatures my wife leaves the back door open so the cats can come in and out as they please.

FS

 

[myzamboni]

Funny you should mention that! There was an article in this morning's paper that said the MARC stations are becoming stressed for parking spaces. Seems that people ARE looking at alternatives, but I suspect that some of this traffic might be from people that have moved here from DC.

I understand DC has a very good Metro system and there is a regional system called MARC that connects Baltimore to DC and all the way out to Martinsburg WV. It also connects to AMTRAK and BWI Airport. Baltimore's system isn't nearly as widespread as DC's, but it is possible to get on the bus or subway or light rail in your neighborhood and go to New York or Boston (or anywhere) without ever getting in a car. I've used the Light Rail to go to baseball games at Camden Yards (named after the train station, BTW) and AMTRAK to go to NYC on business. I know people that do this to see a show on Broadway or go to Times Square on New Years eve. It's very convenient and anything that keeps cars off of I-95 is a good thing, IMHO. As well connected as we are, it wouldn't work for me in my line of business. I run service and never know where I'll be and what I'll need to have with me in the way of tools and equipment. I'm still trying to figure out how to run service calls on a motorcycle!

My sister used to live in Gaithersburg west of DC and commuted to Georgetown in a Chevette. After hearing yet another story about the traffic jams that result from an accident or bad weather, I asked her why she didn't just take the Metro? She said that after paying to park (yeah, they charge for that!) and the monthly pass, the Chevette was actually cheaper! This was about 15 years ago and I suspect the situation has probably changed a lot, but you have to be able to put a price on the convenience of not having to deal with traffic. The traffic around here can be a nightmare!

I hear BART is a very good system. Are there any plans on expanding it in the works? Unfortunately, the State of MD, in their infinite wisdom has decided to invest in more highways, rather than more public transportation. Nobody wants a subway going throught their neighborhood and Lexus lanes from rich bedroom communities are easier to get past the voters. Is $4/gal gas enough to get people out of their cars? I suspect not...

Chris

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit, not the Northern VA woodburner) can't hold DC Metro's jock. Not as many trains, does not drop you in as many convenient places, and costs more.

Plans for expansion are caught up in political crap and are about 15 years behind schedule. Even the propose expansion ignores my side of the valley. We have light-rail by me but it does not go where I need it to. My only blesssing is I have a 'reverse commute' so I don't sit in bumper-to bumper.